Development studies

Development studies is a multidisciplinary branch of social science. Development studies is offered as a specialized Master's degree in a number of universities, and, less commonly, as an undergraduate degree. It has grown in popularity as a subject of study since the early 1990s, and has been most widely taught and researched in the third world and in countries with a colonial history, such as the UK, where development studies originated. Students of development studies often choose careers in international organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector development consultancy firms, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) bodies and research centers.

Professional Bodies

Throughout the world, a number of professional bodies for Development Studies have been founded:

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (French: Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement, abbreviated IHEID or the Graduate Institute Geneva) is a postgraduate university located in Geneva, Switzerland. In academic and professional circles, the Graduate Institute is considered one of Europe's most prestigious institutions. The Institute's alumni and current/former faculty include ambassadors, foreign ministers, heads of state, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, seven Nobel prize recipients, and one Pulitzer Prize winner. It specializes in the fields of political science, international relations, international law, international economics, international history, anthropology and development studies.

The school has a diverse student body and cosmopolitan character due to its 80 percent intake of international students, of over 100 nationalities. It is located blocks from the United Nations headquarters in Europe, the World Trade Organization, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Health Organization.